CREATION
“In the beginning”, God intended humanity to cooperate in the preservation and protection of the natural environment. There would be few places on earth where such respect for God’s ‘Creation’ is taken more seriously than here in the beauty of Grand Teton National Park.
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The history of the world presents a very different context. There is a propensity to interrupt the world’s delicate and balanced ecosystems; and so many in this world no longer associate with nature in order to sustain it; instead, they lord over it to support their own constructs.
It takes a a few days in one of the world’s largest intact ecosystems here in north western Wyoming to shake me out of my apathy. Taking in the grandeur and beauty of the Grand Teton mountain range is but a start. Snow-capped ranges under clear blue skies can disappear, lost in a blanket of white during a snow storm; and clear to provide a saw-toothed silhouette above which the most beautiful sunsets play out in the darkening skies.
Out in the national park and national forests, up close amongst moose, elk, deer, longhorn sheep, eagles, and swans in their natural habitats in mountains and in valleys, only now I can start to understand the morally decaying scenario of our attitude and behaviour towards creation. And realise that this is obscuring our call to take a proactive role in caring for creation. (Do I say, ‘thank you Pope Francis for your exhortations that prick my conscience”?)
It’s experiencing an area as majestic and tranquil as this coupled with an extremely knowledgeable and passionate young guide Gerard to enflame my interests. Learning enough to start understanding how this fragile eco system works, and has been functioning since the beginning of time is a wake-up call for me.. Gerard opened my eyes wider to the wonders of Nature.
TRANQUILITY IN THE RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS
Christmas carols on a repeating loop haven’t made it into the snow here in the Tetons as yet.
Days to enjoy peace and tranquility in this wonderful valley with a book for company (and a television handy that I have yet to switch on). Of course, I enjoy meal times with Andrew, and we take the odd exploration together to better understand the animals and the local ecosystem.
